Compare the UK trucking to Canadian..

[neilg14]

I moved to Canada in September 2016, did my class 1 in December after I settled in with my friends and tried to get in with bison in Calgary. Long story short, they will not touch me until I have held a Canadian licence for 12 months. Don't know if they changed the way they work because the people I am living with have a friend who came over from the uk and went straight in with bison. As for making the move to Canada, I am only 28 so I went through the IEC program, if you are under 30 and not married or have no kids then you can apply through international experience Canada. I had to retake my class 1 though when I arrived in Canada. Swapped my britsish class 1 for a Canadian class 5 (car) so got a bum deal. Got it all done now so I am applying to companies around the area but yeah, bison told me I need a Canadian licence for 12 months before they would even look at me and I went to the terminal in Calgary to see them to basically be told to piss off.

Don't understand why Bison turned you down, a few years ago they were employing anyone that could manage to get a truck into gear.
If you're in Calgary, just go round with your CV banging on doors, dozen's of transport companies in Foothills Ind Est SE.

[Scraggy88]

yeah, I know, There are loads of advertisements around for them on the internet, All their trucks have the "Drive with us" stickers on them. funny thing is, I told them as soon as I landed that I have just arrived from the UK so one would think they would tell me they won't touch me from the start hey!
I sent a load of resumes off and had a couple of call backs so it shouldn't take me long to get back on the road!

[Kiowan]

You didn't get a "bum deal" when you swapped your UK class one for a Canadian class 5, that's just how it is, and I'm not sure what the Alberta air brake test is like but if you do the Manitoba one you can see why they won't convert a UK licence over given we do zero testing on any of that in the UK, the best we get is being asked by the examiner where we would fill the washer fluid up or how to check the oil level.

Your UK experience does count with bison as I was technically employed by them before I even had my Canadian class one, it's possible you just spoke to the wrong person who didn't know the score. Still, if you have an IEC visa then you can work for anyone so I would not limit yourself to the companies who need to recruit from abroad, find a decent smaller company and as mentioned, go door to door as the best ones probably don't need to advertise, they'll have positions filled before its necessary to take out an advert.

[Scraggy88]

Yeah, I am really glad I did the air brakes course, I really learned a lot! Gonna keep the airbrakes book around too. I got in with another company anyway which is nice, westcan bulk. Gonna be pulling hoppers from Edmonton to Yellowknife which is gonna be a new experience, looking forward to getting back out there too! It does make you understand why I had to retake my class 1 over here, just another hurdle to jump over to get where I wanna be I guess it at the end of the day, it will all be worth it!

[Big Truck]

Yeah, I am really glad I did the air brakes course, I really learned a lot! Gonna keep the airbrakes book around too. I got in with another company anyway which is nice, westcan bulk. Gonna be pulling hoppers from Edmonton to Yellowknife which is gonna be a new experience, looking forward to getting back out there too! It does make you understand why I had to retake my class 1 over here, just another hurdle to jump over to get where I wanna be I guess it at the end of the day, it will all be worth it!

You may get on Expats.co.uk and look up the trucking forum and in particular a thread about Westcan Bulk and the Edmonton depot,
good reading it ain't!!!!!!!

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

[flat to the mat]

Yeah, I am really glad I did the air brakes course, I really learned a lot! Gonna keep the airbrakes book around too. I got in with another company anyway which is nice, westcan bulk. Gonna be pulling hoppers from Edmonton to Yellowknife which is gonna be a new experience, looking forward to getting back out there too! It does make you understand why I had to retake my class 1 over here, just another hurdle to jump over to get where I wanna be I guess it at the end of the day, it will all be worth it!

Westcan the red army . Best of luck with that Scraggy , you may have to dig deep into your MTFU pills to enjoy or even endure that particular part of "living the dream" . Hope it works for you

[Scraggy88]

I have had a couple of folks say they are not really that great to work for but I guess I'll have to make up my own mind. . . The guy who did my assessment was from the uk and there were a couple of Brit drivers there too, they all seemed happy and friendly enough. I'm gonna be working out of Calgary terminal but for the winter road season, I'll be running out of Edmonton. I'll see how it goes and take it from there I guess! Got nothing to loose by trying hey!!!

[flat to the mat]

Good attitude , crack on driver .

[neilg14]

I have had a couple of folks say they are not really that great to work for but I guess I'll have to make up my own mind. . . The guy who did my assessment was from the uk and there were a couple of Brit drivers there too, they all seemed happy and friendly enough. I'm gonna be working out of Calgary terminal but for the winter road season, I'll be running out of Edmonton. I'll see how it goes and take it from there I guess! Got nothing to loose by trying hey!!!

At least, if they are crap, you'll be able to tell them to shove it and move on.
You're in a win win situation.

[Scraggy88]

Well, my first couple weeks with westcan, running out of Calgary terminal, first week was training, computer training and time in cab with another driver round Calgary (who was a scouser) driver trainer is a good lad, really helpful (also from the uk) and now I'm up in Yellowknife, hauling prill from Edmonton to Yellowknife for a couple months. Bit of a [zb] with my employment status though as they won't take me on completely full time due to my "immigration status" so I'm full time but on a seasonal basis so I forfeit the benefits that come with full time, until I get myself PR. Still, a job is a job, I'm happy enough at the moment and they seem to be looking after me! Guess I'll see what happens!

[neilg14]

Well, my first couple weeks with westcan, running out of Calgary terminal, first week was training, computer training and time in cab with another driver round Calgary (who was a scouser) driver trainer is a good lad, really helpful (also from the uk) and now I'm up in Yellowknife, hauling prill from Edmonton to Yellowknife for a couple months. Bit of a [zb] with my employment status though as they won't take me on completely full time due to my "immigration status" so I'm full time but on a seasonal basis so I forfeit the benefits that come with full time, until I get myself PR. Still, a job is a job, I'm happy enough at the moment and they seem to be looking after me! Guess I'll see what happens!

Seasonal, my ass, conning [zb], if you manage to stay there 2yrs, you'll be one of the longest serving drivers.

[Kiowan]

You're being taken for a ride, quite literally. If you stick with them your IEC will come to an end and you will need them for a PR application and then you're stuck with them for god knows how long, you've been warned now by several people and a million threads about westcan. You have an open visa, something many people can't get and you are choosing to work for westcan, it's borderline insanity.

[neilg14]

You're being taken for a ride, quite literally. If you stick with them your IEC will come to an end and you will need them for a PR application and then you're stuck with them for god knows how long, you've been warned now by several people and a million threads about westcan. You have an open visa, something many people can't get and you are choosing to work for westcan, it's borderline insanity.

^^^^^^This, 100%.

[newmercman]

Borderline insanity, harsh, but true.

[Roblittle10]

Hi I really want to move to New Brunswick but my problem is the better half! She's worried she won't have anything to do. Also I never knew that I had to re sit my class 1. Is that a must?

[JIMBO47]

if its a euro class1 then yup retest and air brake test. in some provinces if you let your class 1 licence lapse for more than 4yrs its gone and retest needed .

[flat to the mat]

Hi I really want to move to New Brunswick but my problem is the better half! She's worried she won't have anything to do. Also I never knew that I had to re sit my class 1. Is that a must?

Robinhood on here is the man to ask . IMHO New Brunswick might look attractive but a lot depends on your visa/status , work is sparse and relatively poorly paid , your better half might have to work to subsidize your wages . How deeply have you researched , or is this a pipe dream ?

[hkloss1]

Would any one of you chaps know if there is age limit you need to apply for your PR to have a good chance of being granted it after two years in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan?
From what I have read on Manitoba's immigration website, the most points you get when being no more than 45 yo, and then with every passing year you get significantly less points towards your PR application.
I'm wondering what's situation like in those two other provinces,

Thanks

[JIMBO47]

my mate mid 40s just received his pr in Manitoba well within his 2yrs was on a TWP through Express entry. , are you going to try for a TWP or just apply as a Manitoba nominated PR.?. have you looked at Morden /winkler community driven immigration scheme. (towns in Manitoba ) that have there own immigration project or if you are a good French speaker (franco Manitoba)programme de immigration (sorry spellin) immigration to certain rural towns).

[hkloss1]

So, if your mate is in his 40s, say 45 , he then got max amount of points in Manitoba.
Past 45, the number of points you get for your age decreases with every passing year.
I'm wondering if the same type of system applies in Saskatchewan and Alberta, as I couldn't find any information about it on their websites.
I'm not quite sure what's the difference between TWP and Manitoba nominated PR.
What's TWP express entry?
No, I don't speak French at all, lol.
Morden, Winkler community driven immigration scheme, sounds to me like a small community needing people to settle there for many years to come, maybe even for ever, and I don't think I would be willing to live in such a small place, tbh, so I wouldn't want to be taking advantage of some small , nice community, promise themI would settle there for good, and then disappear as soon as I got my PR.

Does anyone know what are drivers options in Manitoba and Saskatchewan when a driver finds a company with LMIA works for them for 6 months, applies for PR and has had enough of them for some reason and wants to change his employer?
Is this the same as in Alberta or does he have more rights and can change his employer without having to start the whole process from the beginning?

Cheers

[JIMBO47]

the big thing with getting a job in MB as a temporary foreign worker is after 6 months work you ask your employer for a letter offering a full time job if you get PR...well you apply to MBPNP give it a couple o months they nominate you for PR as a semi skilled worker with Canadian express,you then send of the paperwork to the federal gov for PR then about 6 months later medical ,then aprox 6months later passport request (copy) then a couple o months its pr time ....now its all done on express entry (computer).under Canadian experience . the sticking it for 6months then moving firm is done(my mate did) but would have to be in MB and same job ie trucking ,you contact MBPNP and tell them . Morden /winkler are small cities fastest growing area in MB. ..also if you know some one that lives in MB it helps as well as it shows you are intending to settle.
MB &SK the PR process is yours ..but in AB its the company that calls the shots. BUT the big thing is to get a work permit.

[newmercman]

Winkler and Morden are not places I would recommend to anybody, unless they were German or Ukrainian and extreme Christians, they're not just in the bible belt, they're the buckle on the belt. Living there would turn a dream into a nightmare pretty fast.

[JIMBO47]

would not live there myself ....but its a way to a means / a way in. ..Morden being the better of the two ,does have some good transport companies that I have looked at and a couple o Dutchmen that live in the village I'm in drive for morden companies.

[hkloss1]

Thanks Jimbo for clarifying that for me.
I have nothing against small Christian towns, But wouldn't want to live in one, as I'm not the type of person that would enjoy living in small communities, I like bigger places, even Steinbach, which I suspect is being considered as one of larger cities by Manitoba standards, wouldn't be for me and I wouldn't want to apply to emigrate this way.

There are a lot of jobs for long haul truck drivers on kijiji with hourly rates being quoted in the region of $23 - $26 per hour.
Are these really hourly paying jobs, or am I missing something.
Not many adverts for long haul truckers quoting mileage pay, but hourly paying jobs mostly.
What's that all about and where is the catch?

[newmercman]

Steinbach is the third largest city in MB, but there's not much to do unless you want to go to church, it's a good place to bring up kids though as the God bothering nature of the majority means there's not much crime at all, you can leave your car running outside a shop and it will still be there when you come out, so in that respect you can't beat it.

If you want a bit of life and soul then Winnipeg is the place to be, there's something there to cater for all tastes, but it's not cheap, my house in Winnipeg would be up to 50% more expensive than it is in Steinbach.

However, the oil patch is slowly gaining momentum again and when elogs are mandatory in December there will be a need for more drivers as the dinosaurs and cowboys will be unable to survive in the industry, so AB and BC may be viable options again, I would hold off until next year, just in case they do, both provinces have far more going for them than MB or SK in my opinion.

[JIMBO47]

Thanks Jimbo for clarifying that for me.
I have nothing against small Christian towns, But wouldn't want to live in one, as I'm not the type of person that would enjoy living in small communities, I like bigger places, even Steinbach, which I suspect is be9ng considered as a large city by Manitoba standards, wouldn't be for me and I wouldn't want to apply to emigrate this way.

There are a lot of jobs for long haul truck drivers on kijiji with hourly rates being quoted in the region of $23 - $26 per hour.
Are these really hourly paying jobs, or am I missing something.
Not many adverts for long haul truckers quoting mileage pay, but hourly paying jobs mostly.
What's that all about and where is the catch?

The catch is this is what they say you will make when running at cents per mile, ie .40c at 50mph =$20... there are hr rates but usually on "local" .

[hkloss1]

All these are valid points you mentioned there NMM, and I know on one hand I would enjoy living in a small Christian community, because of very low to non existent crime and people in general are good and helpfull, but on the other hand due to lack of attractions people want to know what others do on daily basis and this could be tiring.

Do you chaps remember having to count your points if you had enough of them, when you where applying for your PR in MB or other provinces, or maybe this points system doesn't actualy apply when a truck driver comes to Canada having secured a job offer prior to him comming to Canada ?

[newmercman]

Trust me, compared to some of the other expats, the locals are fine! Brits in Steinbach would make a brilliant soap opera lol.

The points system didn't apply as MB nominated us for PR to fill a skills shortage, we had been here working and were settled, both at work and home, with kids in school etc.

Things may be different now though. The Trudeau regime is supposed to be overhauling the system.

There is an alternative now too, all you have to do is walk across the fields near the border at Emerson MB, apply for asylum and you'll get housed, go on benefits etc etc etc. Apparently rural Manitoba is becoming the new Sangatte!

[hkloss1]

The last idea sounds like an easy one to follow.
What I would only need to do is to spend a month on holiday, say Benidorm, don't apply any sun cream, don't shave , travel to the US, pretend not to speak English, lose the passport, and job done.
Having a copy of Q***n on me , when stopped at border, would virtually guarantee me all the benefits available to refugees and a speedy PR processing.
Beats finding a transport company with LMIA and being treated poorly for 2-3 years till you get your PR, any day.

There is a guy on YT, called Sergei, he does heavy haul.
Sometimes I take a look at his vids, but not very often.
Last night I had a look at his latest video and he said he hadn't done anything for the last two weeks as there was no work, so he'd been sitting , checking loads every day, but nothing had been coming up.

He does heavy haul, so I guess it's much more risky part of the business.
Have you, chaps, experienced any slow down recently?
I guess pulling van or a reefer are the safest jobs there are in haulage business in Canada, so I guess drivers doing this type of work shouldn't be affected too badly.
Am I right?

[big-al]

The last idea sounds like an easy one to follow.
What I would only need to do is to spend a month on holiday, say Benidorm, don't apply any sun cream, don't shave , travel to the US, pretend not to speak English, lose the passport, and job done.
Having a copy of Q***n on me , when stopped at border, would virtually guarantee me all the benefits available to refugees and a speedy PR processing.
Beats finding a transport company with LMIA and being treated poorly for 2-3 years till you get your PR, any day.

There is a guy on YT, called Sergei, he does heavy haul.
Sometimes I take a look at his vids, but not very often.
Last night I had a look at his latest video and he said he hadn't done anything for the last two weeks as there was no work, so he'd been sitting , checking loads every day, but nothing had been coming up.

He does heavy haul, so I guess it's much more risky part of the business.
Have you, chaps, experienced any slow down recently?
I guess pulling van or a reefer are the safest jobs there are in haulage business in Canada, so I guess drivers doing this type of work shouldn't be affected too badly.
Am I right?

this is the best idea ive heard in a while, put a towel on your head, stop shaving for a while, forget how to speak english, burn the passport, and walk the 3 mile walk from US to emerson, better than look for a LMIA, and get screwed by a trucking company, cheers for that.

i read that your talking about NB, i spoke to a friend of mine, we did our Class 1 in the same school, he worked in NB, for a year then packed his bags and flown off back to his country, he told me he made aprox 1800-2200 and needed the help of a food bank so hes wife and child wont starve to death, what a life?!
btw, PEI, NB and another two provinces lounches a pilot to recruit drivers straight throu the PNP process, i saw an advertisment on NB immigration web page, they recruiting next month drivers, but only Polish and Ukranian citizens.